ALEXANDRIA, VAZachary Adam Chesser, 20, of Fairfax County, Va., was arrested today on charges that he provided material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Shawn Henry, Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBIs Washington Field Office, made the announcement after Chesser was arrested and the charging documents were made public.

This case exposes the disturbing reality that extreme radicalization can happen anywhere, including Northern Virginia, said U.S. Attorney MacBride. This young man is accused of seeking to join al Shabaab, a brutal terrorist organization with ties to al Qaeda. These allegations underscore the need for continued vigilance against homegrown terror threats.

We can't fight terrorists alone, said FBI ADIC Henry. Religious leaders of all faiths, family members and particularly the younger members of our communities need to speak up and speak out against individuals who participate in actions like those alleged here.

On Feb. 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of State designated al Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization, describing it as a violent and brutal extremist group based in Somalia with a number of individuals affiliated with al Qaeda. This designation prohibits providing material support or resources to al Shabaab.

According to an affidavit filed in court, Chesser, aka Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, volunteered to federal agents that he attempted on two occasions to travel to Somalia to join al Shabaab as a foreign fighter. After he was prevented from boarding a flight from New York to Uganda on July 10, 2010, Chesser allegedly admitted to agents that he intended to travel from Uganda to Somalia. Chesser had attempted to board the plane with his infant son, and court records allege that he brought his son with him as part of his cover to avoid detection of his intention to join al Shabaab in Somalia.

The court affidavit indicates that in a series of interviews with federal law enforcement, Chesser allegedly discussed in detail how he has maintained several online profiles dedicated to extremist jihad propaganda. These profiles were allegedly used by Chesser to post pro-jihad messages and videos online. These postings allegedly included an article detailing the prerequisites involved in leaving for jihad, which closely follows the steps Chesser took before his July 10 attempt to leave the United States in order to go fight in Somalia.

This case was investigated by the FBIs Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the Justice Departments National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Abu Talhah al-Amrikee, avowed South Park critic, American hardline jihadi-Salafi, who admins The Mujahid Blog, contributes to RevolutionMuslim.com and a reader/interlocutor of this blog recently published a piece to his website entitled, Fomenting Disunity in the Counterterrorism Movement.

I can appreciate the overall thrust of Abu Talhahs approach (seeking to divide and conquer) as its one that Ive embraced in my own writings and thinking about how degrade al-Qaida movements. The approach was actually the conceptual backbone of the Stealing AQs Playbook, article that I co-authored in 2006, which has been cited now several times by Ayman al-Zawahiri specifically because of how it turns his own words against him.

I have since sought to refine and advance this methodology because when it comes to counterterrorism, the devil is in the details. Curiously, al-Qaida has also been honing this methodology, most provocatively in The Power of Truth and most recently in The West and the Dark Tunnel.

SNIPPET: First, no one ever accused Zach of being brave. Instead of fighting for Allah, he is safe in suburban Washington, DC.

SNIPPET: Before he ever posted on Revolution Muslim he twittered the same sentiments and also posted on an Islamic Forum. I archived both of these threats knowing in advance that once this hit the media Zach would pull back and try to explain them away (just like his mentors Samir Khan and Yousef al Khattab once did).

SNIPPET: First, the Twitter threat:

SNIPPET: And a screenshot.

Sounds like a threat to me.

SNIPPET: Okay, maybe. But then how do we explain Zachs threat posted over at the Ansar forum?

SNIPPET: Heres an image of that part of the original post.

SNIPPET: And how do we know this is the same Zach Chesser who goes by the online name of Abu Zacharia and Abu Talhah al-Amrike? Heres how the post was signed:

SNIPPET: The Mujahid Blog being owned by one Zachary Chesser, formerly of George Mason University, and more recently seen doing street Dawah  not in New York, as is being reported by the MSM, but in Washington DC and in nearby mosques.

SNIPPET: “He now likes to be called Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, and his primary interest in this world appears to be Islamic radicalism.

Last week, Chesser, 20, posted a warning on the website RevolutionMuslim.com following the 200th episode of “South Park,” which included a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad disguised in a bear suit.”

SNIPPET: “In a separate post on RevolutionMuslim.blogspot.com, which now serves as the group’s main website since RevolutionMuslim.com has been shuttered, Chesser quoted Usama bin Laden when referencing why reactions are required when anyone insults or belittles the Prophet Muhammad.

“As Usama bin Laden said with regard to the cartoons of Denmark,” Chesser wrote, “’If there is no check in the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions.’””

“Chesser had attempted to board the plane with his infant son, and court records allege that he brought his son with him as part of his cover to avoid detection of his intention to join al Shabaab in Somalia. “

"Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee aka Zachary Chesser is the goon who posted the death threats to the creators of South Park on the revolutionmuslim.com website, he needs to be arrested and jailed just like Syed Hashmi."

SNIPPET: “He now likes to be called Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, and his primary interest in this world appears to be Islamic radicalism.

Last week, Chesser, 20, posted a warning on the website RevolutionMuslim.com following the 200th episode of “South Park,” which included a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad disguised in a bear suit.”

SNIPPET: “In a separate post on RevolutionMuslim.blogspot.com, which now serves as the group’s main website since RevolutionMuslim.com has been shuttered, Chesser quoted Usama bin Laden when referencing why reactions are required when anyone insults or belittles the Prophet Muhammad.

“As Usama bin Laden said with regard to the cartoons of Denmark,” Chesser wrote, “’If there is no check in the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions.’””

Note: This is taking a look at islamist propaganda (courtesy of the JAWA REPORT) and IS NOT for the people of Poland and no one on FreeRepublic.com agrees with jihad/islamist propaganda. This is posted here for archival purposes.

I shouldn’t have to say this, but after receiving a few messages — I guess I do.

A Virginia man who targeted the creators of South Park for satirizing issues surrounding the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad has been charged with attempting to travel to Somalia to fight with an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group.

Zachary Adam Chesser, 20, was charged in Virginia federal court on July 21, 2010 with providing material support to Al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist organization based in Somalia. Chesser, a U.S. citizen from Fairfax, Virginia, was apprehended on July 10, 2010 in New York as he attempted to board a plane to Uganda. Chesser admitted to authorities after his arrest that he twice attempted to travel to Somalia to join Al Shabaab.

Chesser, who goes by the username Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, has been distributing terrorist propaganda, endorsing suicide attacks and espousing hatred against Jews, Israel and Shi’a Muslims through a variety of Web sites, blogs and social networking sites for at least a year. For example, in June 2010, Chesser distributed a 25-page report on how to teach Western children the values of Jihad. The report suggested creating a “normalization of the notion of dying for the sake of Allah” in the “masaajid [mosques], the schools and the homes.” In another post, Chesser endorsed the idea of spreading jihad globally. “The jihad movement has moved from the mountains and caves to the bedrooms of every major city around the world,” Chesser wrote in a March 2010 post to the Web site of Revolution Muslim (RM), a fringe anti-Semitic Muslim organization that justifies terrorist attacks and other forms of violence against non-Muslims. Chesser appears to be an emerging leader of the group.

In April 2010, Chesser threatened the creators of South Park for satirizing issues surrounding the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in an episode on a number of online platforms. On April 15, the morning after the episode of South Park aired, Chesser made his first comment about the program on his Twitter feed. “May Allah kill Matt Stone and Trey Parker and burn them in Hell for all eternity. They insult our prophets Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses...”

Chesser posted a similar entry to his Mujahid Blog on the same day (the post was later added to the RM Web site). The post included a picture of the assassination of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh by a Muslim extremist in 2004 with the caption: “Theo Van Gogh  Have Matt Stone And Trey Parker Forgotten This?” In the post, Chesser provided the address to Stone and Parker’s offices, telling readers to “contact them” or “pay Comedy Central a visit.” Chesser also noted: “We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh if they do air this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them.”

On April 18, Chesser posted a comment to RM’s Web site, calling on supporters to help in the “defense of the Prophet campaign.” The post included a purported lecture of Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S. born Muslim cleric living in Yemen who distributes radical sermons online, retelling a story about a Jewish leader who was assassinated for defaming the Prophet during the 7th century. The post ends with the message by Revolution Muslim: “Join us in this campaign to let Matt Stone & Trey Parker know that the dust will never settle down.”

Reader comments in response to Chesser’s recent posts include threatening language. For example, “I wish i [sic] could slit their throats with a rusty knife,so [sic] it be more painful....” and, “So the options we have to deal with these two kafirs Killing and annihilating them Crucifying them Cutting off from opposite sides their hands and feet with axes.”

Chesser’s wife, who goes by the online username Umm Talhah, also commented on the South Park controversy on Facebook by saying “may Allah awj humiliate them THE SOUTH PARK CREATURES...”

Chesser, who described himself as a “Muslim revert” and former student at George Mason University, reportedly lives in Virginia. He appeared in a March 2010 RM video with Mohamed Mahmood Alessa, who was charged in June for planning to kill American soldiers overseas and fight with the Somali-based terrorist group Al Shabaab. The video depicts an RM protest in front of the White House, which coincided with an antiwar rally. During the protest, Chesser called Obama “an enemy of our religion and a tyrant.”

Online Activity

Chesser’s online history includes numerous posts to a variety of blogs, Web sites and social networking sites. Among them is the Revolution Muslim (RM) Web site, on which Chesser is a contributor and has posted jihadist propaganda. For example, after the March 2010 subway bombings in Moscow, which killed at least 40 people and wounded 60 others, Chesser praised the two female suicide bombers.

During an online discussion run by RM in February 2010, Chesser wrote: “May Allah blow up the Jews and the Rawaafidh [shi’a].” Chesser, who appears to be an emerging member of the group, has indicated that he is seeking people to help him start a RM chapter in D.C., closer to his apparent home in Virginia. In an email reportedly sent to Foxnews, Chesser wrote that he writes for RM to raise awareness of “key Islamic beliefs.” He said in the email that “peace come[s] with the following conditions: a complete withdrawal of non-Muslim forces from Muslim lands, an ending of the propping up of the apartheid regime of Israel ” Chesser also warned, “If you kill us, then we kill you.”

Chesser has also posted on a Web site run by Samir Khan, a North Carolina-based blogger who also distributes jihadist propaganda.

In addition to extremist sites, Chesser uses mainstream social networking sites, like Facebook and YouTube, to post many of his comments and materials. In April 2010, administrators disabled his Facebook account, according to his wife.

The following is a sampling of Chesser’s recent posts on a variety of sites:

Al Faloja Forum

Chesser posts to Al Faloja forum, an Islamic message board that contains terrorist propaganda, including various terrorist videos and user comments expressing support for terrorist groups and their activity. In a June 2010 post, Chesser encourages a campaign of fake attacks, for instance leaving an abandoned car in Times Square or a bag near the White House, which will desensitize the public and law enforcement and “would be of great help to the mujahidiin.” He ends his post by saying, “A cop might walk up to a bag that someone thought might be a bomb, so he assumes it is not. Then he bends over to open it rolling his eyes at this waste of his time. Boom! No more kaafir [non-Muslim].”

Al Qimmah Forum

Chesser frequently contributes to the English section of Al Qimmah forum, a predominantly Somali and Arabic message board. In June 2010, Chesser wrote and recorded an English song which he posted on the forum. In the song, titled “So Work Hard O Soldier,” he sings, “Our goals are only two... Victory or death, from the first drop of life’s blood, until the final breath. They call me ‘irhaabi,’ [terrorist] for supporting mujahidun. So if jihad is irhaab [terrorism], then nahnu irhaabiyun [we are terrorists].”

7th Century Generation Forum

Chesser’s posts to the 7th Century Generation forum, an Islamic message board dedicated to various topics relating to Islam, includes various terrorist videos and comments about current events. Chesser described the May 2010 attack carried out against Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks as “Correcting an evil with your hand ” Vilks has been targeted for his depictions of the Prophet Muhammad as a dog in a Swedish newspaper in 2007.

In another post on February 28, 2010, Chesser expressed support for the mujahideen, saying “Allah grant them a quick and obvious victory over the munafiqeen [hypocrites] and the innovators. Allah provide for the families of the martyrs Guide us to be among the mujahideen and grant us martyrdom in Your Path.”

Islamic Emirate Forum

Chesser’s contributions to the Islamic Emirate forum, a message board for Muslims to “serve Allah by uniting,” include an April 2010 post calling several countries “clear enemies,” including America, Israel and the United Kingdom. He also posted an entry arguing that “The issue of killing someone without going to a Qadee [judge] is correct in the situation of one who insults the Messenger of Allah.” This entry was posted on April 13, 2010, the day before an episode aired on South Park that satirized issues surrounding the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

Islamic Awakening Forum

Chesser has used several accounts on the Islamic Awakening forum, an Islamic forum dedicated to various topics relating to Islam. In a December 2009 post, Chesser expressed support for the September 11 hijackers, saying “Why does every Muslim desire that 9-11 be an inside job, when if it is not it means that 20+ Muslims will get the reward for fighting jihad.” In another post in the same thread, Chesser justified the attack, saying “Collateral damage is allowed. The WTC, the Pentagon, and the White House are all military targets regardless of whether or not they had civilians in them.”

YouTube  AQWAHProductions Channel

Chesser maintains a YouTube channel under the name “AQWAHProductions,” where he posts numerous terrorist videos and praises the mujahideen who have been killed around the world.

Chesser’s former YouTube channel, “Al Quran wa al-Ahadeeth,” which was suspended in May 2010, contained similar videos, including English translations of Arabic sermons. One of these sermons, titled “The Permissibility of Self-Sacrificial Operations” by Shaykh Yousuf Al-Uyayri, tells Muslims that in order to expel Jews from Israel, “the best treatment and the greatest medicine that we apply to the brothers of monkeys and pigs (i.e. the Jews) is that we perform these martyrdom operations.”

Chesser also posts comments to other YouTube channels. In April 2009, in response to a video of a speech by Israeli diplomat Mark Regev, he commented: “Ya Allaah! Destroy this vile nation we will crush these vile devils like bugs.”

The Mujahid Blog

Chesser’s Mujahid Blog, “dedicated to those who give their lives for this religion,” includes both original materials as well as reposts of various terrorist propaganda.

In a March 21, 2010, post titled “Counter Counter Terrorism #1,” Chesser gives instructions on how to counter counterterrorism efforts and proposes advertising the successes of the mujahideen with a “clear bias.” He suggests using terms like “5 Western pigs sent to Hellfire in sha’a Allah,” when talking about non-Muslims who have been killed.

The Mujahid blog, operated by wordpress, also has a forum that allows others to post materials. In a January 25, 2010, post to this forum, he identified his full name as “Zachary A Chesser.” He also said, “I am a revert to Islam and I was a student at George Mason University. Feel free to go to GMU’s [Muslim Student Association] page on facebook and ask them about me if you are seriously worried about that.”

The Mujahid blog appears to have been suspended by wordpress on April 22 for violation of terms of service.

Youtube Jihad Blog

The Youtube Jihad Blog consists of Chesser and five other contributors. The contributors  who post videos containing fatwas, lectures, nasheeds (Islamic songs) and other materials  also operate YouTube channels that include the same videos. One video posted by Chesser on February 22, 2010, titled “America Tuta Fika,” shows several militants pointing their guns at the screen as Chesser sings “America, America, America here we come, we come to please our lord, and jihad is all we know.”

Facebook

Chesser’s Facebook profile, which was disabled in April, included many of the same videos, sermons and other materials that he posts on his blogs. For example, Chesser posted dozens of sermons by Anwar al-Awlaki. His wife reposted the majority of these materials on her Facebook profile as well.

Twitter

Chesser has two Twitter accounts, one under the name Mujahid Blog and the other under his alias Abu Talhah. He uses his accounts to direct followers to the materials he posts elsewhere online and to make other statements. On March 22, 2010 he tweeted: “United States still the slave of Israel. Hillary Clinton declares relationship with the genocidal regime ‘Rock solid.’” Both Twitter accounts have been deactivated.

Scribd

Chesser’s scribd account is filled with various extremist documents. One document that he wrote in conjunction with Younus Abdullah Muhammad, a spokesperson for Revolution Muslim, is an article that refutes a West Point study claiming that Al Qaeda kills mostly Muslims. The Scribd account has been deactivated.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

SNIPPET: “Chesser’s online history includes numerous posts to a variety of blogs, Web sites and social networking sites. Among them is the Revolution Muslim (RM) Web site, on which Chesser is a contributor and has posted jihadist propaganda. For example, after the March 2010 subway bombings in Moscow, which killed at least 40 people and wounded 60 others, Chesser praised the two female suicide bombers.

During an online discussion run by RM in February 2010, Chesser wrote: “May Allah blow up the Jews and the Rawaafidh [shi’a].” Chesser, who appears to be an emerging member of the group, has indicated that he is seeking people to help him start a RM chapter in D.C., closer to his apparent home in Virginia.”

Prosecutions Show Awlakis Continuing Influence in the United States

IPT News
July 21, 2010

SNIPPET: Paul Rockwood of King Salmon, Alaska and Zachary Adam Chesser of Fairfax, Virginia, could not have been more differentthey lived on opposite sides of the United States and were of different generations, but they shared a common threadthey had both been radicalized by Anwar al-Awlaki. And now they are in the custody of federal authorities for ties to international terrorism.

SNIPPET: “Chesser, a George Mason University dropout whose parents live in Centreville, told the FBI that he only recently became religious and grew a beard, took the name Abu Tallah Al-Amrikee and married a Muslim woman in 2009, according to court papers. He allegedly looked to online videos, chats and over-the-counter CDs “almost obsessively,” before creating a stream of YouTube sites, blogs and postings spreading the call “to fight jihad,” the papers say.

In particular, he said he exchanged e-mails directly with the Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi...”

SNIPPET: “One of my best jihadist interlocutors, Abu Talhah al-Amrikee, got bagged this week for alleged desire to go join al-Shabab. As followers of my blog will know, he and I had vigorous backs and forths on the blog but what you may or may not know is that he and I had been holding a series of private discussions as well. I wont make those public (yet) given that this is rapidly unfolding.

I will, however, copy/paste an excerpt from the article that Abu Talhah recently penned where he takes aim at several CT analysts, including me. Heres what he wrote in Counter Counter Terrorism: Fomenting Disunity In the Counterterrorism Movement.”

SNIPPET: “UPDATE: Here’s a screenshot of Jesse “Younes Abdullah Mohammad” Morton in front of the White House with his friend Zachary “ZZ Top” Chesser. That’s him on the left.

Make sure to read the sign and try not to laugh.

In addition to being bosom buddies with Zach Chesser, now awaiting trial for providing material support to terrorists, I’ll remind you that Jesse also wrote an article for Samir Khan’s first attempt at a magazine promoting terrorism. One wonders if Samir called on his old buddy to help him his official al Qaeda version of it?

Is it just me, or does Jesse like to hang out with terrorists?

UPDATE: Oh, I almost forgot about this. ADL:

Abdullah Muhammad has appeared in several RM and Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS) events with Mohamed Mahmood Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, two New Jersey men who have been arrested on terror-related charges. In RM’s video of the its protest at the 2010 Israel Day Parade in New York, Alessa is seen standing next to Abdullah Muhammad while he reads RM’s condemnation of Israel. In another instance, on December 28, 2008, Abdullah Muhammad and Almonte appeared together at an ITS protest outside the Israeli consulate in New York. Standing next to Abdullah Muhammad, Almonte held a sign that read “Death to all (zionist) juice.”

Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Encouraging Violent Jihadists to Kill U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTONZachary Adam Chesser, 20, of Fairfax County, Va., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Liam OGrady to a three-count criminal information that included charges of communicating threats against the writers of the South Park television show, soliciting violent jihadists to desensitize law enforcement, and attempting to provide material support to Al-Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The guilty plea was announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and John G. Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office.

Chesser faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 25, 2011.

The defendant attempted to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and used the Internet to incite violence. Thankfully, his commitment to violence was outmatched by the dedicated work of the agents, prosecutors and analysts who worked tirelessly to bring this man to justice, said Assistant Attorney General David Kris. Todays guilty plea is a direct result of the partnership and cooperation between the National Security Division, the U.S. Attorneys Office and the FBI.

Zachary Chesser seriously endangered the lives of innocent people who will remain at risk for many years to come, said U.S. Attorney MacBride. His solicitation of extremists to murder U.S. citizens also caused people throughout the country to fear speaking out  even in jest  lest they also be labeled as enemies who deserved to be killed. In admitting his guilt today, Mr. Chesser reminded us of the serious threat homegrown jihadists pose to this country, and I express my gratitude and admiration for the FBI agents who apprehended Mr. Chesser before he could endanger even more Americans.

The FBIs number one priority is to combat terrorist attacks against the United States, said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Perren. Using broad-based communication channels to threaten, harm and intimidate and then incite others to do the same will not be tolerated. The FBI works to investigate persons who have acted on a radical philosophy and seek to harm to U.S. citizens.

According to court documents filed with his plea agreement, Chesser maintained several online profiles dedicated to extremist jihad propaganda. Today, Chesser pleaded guilty to taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent jihadists to attack the writers of South Park for their depiction of Muhammad, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to pay them a visit. Among the steps he took was posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Al-Awlaki was designated by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on July 12, 2010.

Chesser also admitted that in May 2010, he posted to a jihadist website the personal contact information of individuals who had joined the Everybody Draw Muhammad Day group on Facebook, with the prompting that this is, Just a place to start.

Chesser also pleaded guilty to soliciting others to desensitize law enforcement by placing suspicious-looking but innocent packages in public places. Chesser explained through a posting online that once law enforcement was desensitized, a real explosive could be used. Chesser ended the posting with the words, Boom! No more kuffar. According to court documents, kuffar means unbeliever, or disbeliever.

According to court records, Chesser also admitted that from at least January 2010 through July 2010, he posted numerous messages online that included calls from Al-Awlaki to join violent jihadists and step-by-step actions individuals needed to take to leave for jihad. Among those postings included a video Chesser made that featured images of mujahedeen in Somalia and a song, sung by Chesser, with the translated title, America We Are Coming.

Chesser admitted that he promoted online what he called Open Source Jihad, where he would direct jihadists through his online forums to information on the Internet that they could use to elude capture and death while maintaining relevance and striking capability. This included linking to the entire security screening manual used by the Transportation Security Administration and hundreds of books that contained information on the construction of antiaircraft missiles, and tactics, techniques and weapons for targeting aircraft such as jet airplanes and helicopters.

In addition, Chesser pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to Al-Shabaab. On Feb. 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of State designated Al-Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization, describing it as a violent and brutal extremist group based in Somalia with a number of individuals affiliated with Al-Qaeda. This designation prohibits providing material support or resources to Al-Shabaab.

According to court records, Chesser admitted that he twice attempted to leave the United States and travel to Somalia for the purpose of joining Al-Shabaab and engage in violent jihad as a foreign fighter. The first attempt was in November 2009, which was postponed because his wife was unable to obtain her passport. The second attempt was on July 10, 2010, when he sought to board a flight from New York to Uganda with his infant son. He was prevented from boarding the plane, and Chesser admitted that he brought his son with him as part of his cover to avoid detection of his intention to join Al-Shabaab in Somalia. He also attempted to board the plane with a video camera, which he admitted in court that he intended to use to make production quality videos for al-Shabaabs propaganda campaign.

Chesser also admitted today in court that he posted several online messages in support of Al-Shabaab, including videos of attacks by Al-Shabaab on a government building in Mogadishu, a video claiming that African Union troops are responsible for killing civilians in Somalia, a video supporting the merger of Al-Shabaab with another organization, and links to what Chesser described as the Al Qaeda Manual that included instructions in support of violent jihad.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon Kromberg and Thomas H. McQuillan of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case.

Mr. and Mrs. Chesser: Till Prison do They Part
Posted on October 20, 2010 by Admin

As Zach Chesser prepares to plead guilty today, theres another curious story flying just below the radar. The crack jihadi cyber sleuths over at ADL released this report that is one of just handful to concentrate on Chessers wife (Umm Talhah).

Money quote:

Like her husband, Nzabanita has an extensive online footprint that dates back as early as December 2008  before they were married  when she posted comments on Anwar al-Awlakis now-defunct blog. Not only did she use Awlakis blog to explore issues surrounding how to be a woman and still fulfill the obligation of jihad, but she also communicated with Chesser about various related issues.

SNIPPET: “The wife of a Virginia man who allegedly attempted to travel to Somalia to join the terrorist group Al Shabaab has been charged with making a false statement to federal authorities.

Proscovia Kampire Nzabanita, a Ugandan woman living in Virginia, was charged with making a false statement about her husband’s case to federal authorities on October 18, 2010. On the same day, her husband Zachary Chesser was charged with additional terrorism offenses, including communicating threats and soliciting crimes of violence. Prior to his arrest, Chesser distributed a wide range of terrorist propaganda online and was the focus of national attention after he threatened the creators of South Park for satirizing issues surrounding the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad

Like her husband, Nzabanita has an extensive online footprint that dates back as early as December 2008  before they were married  when she posted comments on Anwar al-Awlaki’s now-defunct blog. Not only did she use Awlaki’s blog to explore issues surrounding how to be a woman and still fulfill the obligation of “jihad,” but she also communicated with Chesser about various related issues.

In January 2009, Chesser responded to one of Nzabanita’s post about how a woman should participate in the movement. “If our community in the West had more sisters like you subhanallah we would be blessed mash’allah. I always thought if I made Hijra I would find a wife later, because of a lack of sympathy toward Al-Mujahideen, but perhaps there are more here than I though [sic],” he said, foreshadowing the fact that she would soon become his wife.

Nzabanita also posted messages to Awlaki’s blog encouraging Muslims to participate in holy war: “muslimoon [Muslims] get it together!” she wrote in December 2008. “Its pretty clear muslimoon, anyone who thinks jhd [jihad] is not fard [mandatory] is stil sleeping [sic].””

Virginia Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Providing Material Support and Encouraging Violent Jihadists to Kill U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTONZachary Adam Chesser, 21, of Fairfax County, Virginia, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for communicating threats against the writers of the South Park television show, soliciting violent jihadists to desensitize law enforcement, and attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The sentencing was announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office.

“Zachary Chesser attempted to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and used the Internet to incite violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kris. “Today he is being held accountable for his actions. I applaud the many agents, prosecutors, and analysts who worked tirelessly to bring this man to justice.”

“Zachary Chesser will spend 25 years in prison for advocating the murder of U.S. citizens for engaging in free speech about his religion,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “His actions caused people throughout the country to fear speaking outeven in jestto avoid being labeled as enemies who deserved to be killed. The fact that a young man from Northern Virginia could support such violence and terror is a sobering reminder of the serious threat that homegrown jihadists pose to this country.”

“Zachary Chesser encouraged violent jihad,” said James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “The FBI is concerned about U.S. citizens traveling overseas to join al Shabaab, and we are vigilant in working to disrupt potential plots where U.S. citizens become further indoctrinated and return with actual terrorism experience and training.”

According to court documents filed with his plea agreement on Oct. 20, 2010, Chesser maintained several online profiles dedicated to extremist jihad propaganda. Chesser admitted to taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent jihadists to attack the writers of South Park for an episode that included Muhammad in a bear suit, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to “pay them a visit.” Among the steps he took was posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Al-Awlaki was designated by the United States as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” on July 12, 2010.

Chesser also admitted that in May 2010, he posted to a jihadist website the personal contact information of individuals who had joined the “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” group on Facebook, with the prompting that this is “Just a place to start.”

Chesser also pleaded guilty to soliciting others to desensitize law enforcement by placing suspicious-looking but innocent packages in public places. Chesser explained through a posting online that once law enforcement was desensitized, a real explosive could be used. Chesser ended the posting with the words, “Boom! No more kuffar.” According to court documents, “kuffar” means unbeliever, or disbeliever.

According to court records, Chesser also admitted that from at least January 2010 through July 2010, he posted numerous messages online that included calls from Al-Awlaki to join violent jihadists and step-by-step actions individuals needed to take to leave for jihad. Among those postings included a video Chesser made that featured images of mujahedeen in Somalia and a song, sung by Chesser, with the translated title, “America We Are Coming.”

Chesser admitted that he promoted online what he called “Open Source Jihad,” where he would direct jihadists through his online forums to information on the Internet that they could use to elude capture and death while maintaining relevance and striking capability. This included linking to the entire security screening manual used by the Transportation Security Administration and hundreds of books that contained information on the construction of anti-aircraft missiles and tactics, techniques, and weapons for targeting aircraft such as jet airplanes and helicopters.

In addition, Chesser pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab. On Feb. 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of State designated al Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization, describing it as a violent and brutal extremist group based in Somalia with a number of individuals affiliated with al Qaeda. This designation prohibits providing material support or resources to al Shabaab.

According to court records, Chesser admitted that he twice attempted to leave the United States and travel to Somalia for the purpose of joining al Shabaab and engage in violent jihad as a foreign fighter. The first attempt was in November 2009, which was postponed because his wife was unable to obtain her passport. The second attempt was on July 10, 2010, when he sought to board a flight from New York to Uganda with his infant son. He was prevented from boarding the plane, and Chesser admitted that he brought his son with him as part of his “cover” to avoid detection of his intention to join al Shabaab in Somalia. He also attempted to board the plane with a video camera, which he admitted in court that he intended to use to make production quality videos for al Shabaab’s propaganda campaign.

Chesser also admitted in court that he posted several online messages in support of al Shabaab, including videos of attacks by al Shabaab on a government building in Mogadishu, a video claiming that African Union troops are responsible for killing civilians in Somalia, a video supporting the merger of al Shabaab with another organization, and links to what Chesser described as the “Al Qaeda Manual” that included instructions in support of violent jihad.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon Kromberg and Thomas H. McQuillan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case.

SNIPPET: “A Virginia man who converted to Islam will serve 25 years in prison for trying to provide material support to the al-Shabaab terrorist group. He also admits issuing threats against the producers of “South Park,” and anyone who participated in “Everyone Draw Muhammad Day” online.

Zachary Chesser, 21, faced up to 30 years in prison. He expressed remorse for his crimes during a sentencing hearing Thursday morning.

Writing under the name Talhah al-Amrikee, he tried to solicit people to kill the Danish cartoonist who drew caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

In an especially forceful sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argued that the damage from Chesser’s terrorist support activity will haunt his victims for the rest of their lives and cannot be undone by any change of heart.

“Chesser marked them for death for engaging in free expression that he found insulting as well,” prosecutors wrote.”These victims included a teenager in Mississippi and a young man from Texas depicted in a photo with his parents and a brother, along with the address of his ‘possible church/school.’ As Chesser pointed out for the killers in his audience on the Ansar Al Jihad Network, ‘Just a place to start.’”

He also encouraged people to leave suspicious packages in public places in hopes law enforcement became desensitized to their presence. Then, real bombs could be planted without being detected.”

“Zachary Adam Chesser: September 9, 2011 (Where are the People of Knowledge?)”

SNIPPET:

“09
SEP

Bismillaah ir-Rahmaan ir-Rahiim,

11th Shawwaal, 1432
9th September, 2011

As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu,

Here in Marions Communication Management Unit we have a decided lack of access to people of knowledge. The most knowledeable people in the Bureau of Prisons are locked up in Colorados notorious ADX facility, a medical facility in North Carolina, and Terre Haute, Indianas CMU.”

SNIPPET: “I am requesting that people find shuyuukh who are willing to answer our questions. They should know that we are almost all from cases such as the Umar Abdur-Rahmaan case, the first WTC bombing case, and other such cases. They should also know that all of our communications are read or listened to by intelligence officials. Furthermore, this is a unit where many if not most of the individuals will need to see things such as the usuul ul-fiqh/hadiith/tafsiir principles which cause the ruling to be such and such. Most of the prisoners here speak Arabic, but correspondences in Arabic take a few months to arrive whereas those in English usually arrive within a week or two.

Please, if you are qualified to help us or if you find somebody who is qualified for us, then send us their contact information (the best way to communicate for us is e-mail) either by sending it to aseerun.wordpress.com or by sending it to me in the mail at the following address:

Leader of Revolution Muslim Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Solicit Murder and Encourage Violent Extremism

U.S. Attorneys Office
February 09, 2012

Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, VAJesse Curtis Morton, aka Younus Abdullah Muhammed, 33, of New York City, pleaded guilty today to using his position as a leader of Revolution Muslim Organizations Internet sites to conspire to solicit murder, make threatening communications, and use the Internet to place others in fear.

Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Washington Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Liam OGrady.

Morton faces a maximum penalty five years in prison for each of the three charges when he is sentenced on May 18, 2012.

Jesse Morton operated Revolution Muslim to radicalize those who saw and heard his materials online and to incite them to engage in violence against those they believed to be enemies of Islam, said U.S. Attorney MacBride. We may never know all of those who were inspired to engage in terrorism because of Revolution Muslim, but the string of recent terrorism cases with ties to Mortons organization demonstrates the threat it posed to our national security. Were grateful to the FBI, NYPD, and their law enforcement partners throughout the world who made todays conviction possible.

Individuals such as Morton who encourage violence and create fear over the Internet are a danger to our society and to the freedoms we enjoy as citizens, said Assistant Director in Charge McJunkin. Todays plea, and other recent cases of those associated with Mortons organization, demonstrate the widespread nature of this danger. Together with our partner law enforcement agencies, and with the assistance of the community, the FBI will continue to pursue those who promulgate violent extremism and promote the radicalization of others.

Fortunately, NYPD Intelligence Division detectives were in a position to learn exactly how Morton used the Internet to conspire to solicit murder, and how he encouraged others to solicit the murder of an artist whose material he deemed offensive, said Police Commissioner Kelly. This important plea resulted because the NYPDs monitoring of Mortons activities, combined with the investigative and prosecutorial expertise of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia, made for a strong case, in addition to a strong partnership.

According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Morton founded Revolution Muslim in December 2007 and created various online forums that contained postings and information supportive of violent extremism. Morton and his associates used the organizations websites to encourage Muslims to engage in violence against those they believed to be enemies of Islam and to support Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and others espousing violence. They posted messages in support of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the November 2009 killings at Ft. Hood and attacks and future threats against Jewish organizations, among others.

Through his online forums, Morton conspired with Zachary Chesser, of Fairfax County, Va., and others to solicit the murder of an artist tied to the Everybody Draw Mohammed Day movement in May 2010, including posting online a magazine that included the artist in a hit list for violent extremists to take out and a message from Anwar Al-Awlaki that explicitly called for the artists assassination. In justifying these actions, Morton posted online a speech of his asserting that Islams position is that those that insult the Prophet may be killed and exhorting his listeners to fight the disbelievers near you.

In addition, Morton admitted through his statement of facts that he aided Chesser in taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent extremists to attack the writers of South Park for an episode that featured Muhammad in a bear suit, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to pay them a visit. Among the steps they took were posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Morton worked with Chesser to draft a message for the website regarding the South Park threats, including a quote from Osama bin Laden that If there is no check in the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions. Morton and Chesser posted the final version of this statement on various extremist online forums, and Chesser told Morton that he expected the statement would scare the kuffar. Kuffar is an Arabic term, referring to an unbeliever, or disbeliever, in Islam.

Chesser was arrested on July 21, 2010, charged with providing material support to al Shabaab and later also pleaded guilty to communicating threats and soliciting violent extremists to desensitize law enforcement. Four days after Chessers arrest, Morton fled to Morocco, where he resided until his arrest on U.S. charges on May 26, 2011.

In his statement of facts, Morton admitted that the Revolution Muslim websites contained the writings of and/or contributed to the radicalization of individuals who were inclined to engage in violence, including the following:

Samir Khan, previously of Charlotte, N.C., before moving to Yemen in 2009, was authorized by Morton to post materials on Revolution Muslim, and Morton provided Khan with two articles for the first two online editions of Jihad Recollections, an online magazine dedicated to violent extremism. In July 2010, Morton posted the first edition of Inspire magazine, an English-language magazine supporting al Qaeda that Morton believed to be the product of Khan. The magazine included an eight-page article titled Make a bomb in the kitchen of Your Mom, with detailed instructions regarding the construction of an explosive device.

Bilal Zaheer Ahmad, of the United Kingdom, was provided the password to Revolution Muslim by Morton and given permission to post messages. In November 2010, Ahmad praised Roshonara Choundhry for attempting to kill a British member of parliament over his support for the Iraq war and posted a list of 383 members of parliament who had voted for the Iraq war, along with suggestions on how to get in to see them and a link to a store selling a weapon similar to that used in Choundhrys attack. Ahmad told Morton that the purpose of the post was to make those MPs fearful.

Abdel Hameed Shehedah, a former resident of Staten Island, N.Y., who was charged in October 2010 of making false statements involving his alleged attempt to travel to Pakistan to join a fighting group such as the Taliban. The statement of facts states that Shehedah attended Revolution Muslim meetings, made his website, civiljihad.com, a feeder site for Revolution Muslim and eventually arranged for all visitors to his website be routed automatically to Revolution Muslim.com.

Rezwan Ferdaus, of Ashland, Mass., was charged in September 2011 with plotting to attack the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol using large remote controlled aircraft filled with C-4 plastic explosives. The statement of facts states that in February 2010, Ferdaus e-mailed Morton asking for counsel regarding his duties as a Muslim and whether martyrdom operations were proper practice. Morton replied that martyrdom operations must be judged by intention but can have enormous benfits (sic) in a war of attrition.

Colleen R. LaRose, aka Jihad Jane, of Montgomery County, Pa., was charged in March 2010 with a variety of terrorism-related offenses, including plotting to kill Lars Vilks, a Swedish cartoonist who has been the subject of several murder threats based on his artwork depicting Muhammad. According to the statement of facts, Morton notified Sheikh Abdullah Faisal, a Muslim cleric convicted in the United Kingdom of soliciting murder, that LaRose was a subscriber to Revolution Muslim YouTube accounts.

Antonio Benjamin Martinez, of Baltimore, Md., was arrested and charged with plotting to bomb a military recruiting station in December 2010. The statement of facts states that one month prior to his arrest, Martinez viewed a video of Osama bin Laden and multiple terror training camp video clips on the Revolution Muslim website.

Jose Pimental, of New York City, was arrested and charged in November 2011 in connection with a plot to build and use a bomb to assassinate members of the U.S. military returning from active duty in Afghanistan. According to the statement of facts, Pimental contacted Morton saying that he was a big fan of Revolution Muslim, and that Morton recommended that Pimentel stay away from an individual because there is high probability that he is working for the FBI.

Mohamed Hamoud Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, both of New Jersey, were arrested in June 2010 on their way to Somalia to join a terrorist organization to kill individuals whose beliefs and practices did not accord with their ideology. The statement of facts states that both Alessa and Almonte were associates of Mortons within the Revolution Muslim organization, and Morton was interviewed by investigators from the New York City Police Department on the day of their arrest.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBIs Washington Field Office and the New York Police Departments Intelligence Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and Karen L. Dunn of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

ALEXANDRIA, VAJesse Curtis Morton, aka Younus Abdullah Muhammed, 33, of New York City, was sentenced today to 138 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for using his position as a leader of the Revolution Muslim organizations Internet sites to conspire to solicit murder, make threatening communications, and use the Internet to place others in fear.

Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Washington Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam OGrady.

Jesse Morton sought to inspire Muslims to engage in terrorism by providing doctrinal justification for violence against civilians in the name of Islam. The string of recent cases with ties to Mr. Morton demonstrates that he was very successful, said U.S. Attorney MacBride. His crimes not only put peoples lives forever in danger, but they also chilled free expression out of fear of retaliation by violent terrorists.

Mr. Morton utilized the Internet to incite fear and terror by encouraging violence and radicalization, and he will now pay for those crimes with todays sentence, said Assistant Director in Charge McJunkin. Together with our partner law enforcement agencies, and with the assistance of the community, the FBI will continue to pursue those who support violent extremism and promote the radicalization of others, whether online or in person.

Morton pleaded guilty on February 9, 2012. According to court records, in 2007, Morton founded Revolution Muslim, an organization that operated Internet platforms and websites supportive of violent extremism. Morton and his associates used the organizations websites to encourage Muslims to engage in violence against those they believed to be enemies of Islam and to support Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and others espousing violence. They posted messages in support of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the November 2009 killings at Ft. Hood, and attacks and future threats against Jewish organizations, among others.

Through his online forums, Morton conspired with Zachary Chesser, of Fairfax County, Virginia, and others to solicit the murder of an artist tied to the Everybody Draw Mohammed Day movement in May 2010, including posting online a magazine that included the artist in a hit list for violent extremists to take out and a message from Anwar Al-Awlaki that explicitly called for the artists assassination. In justifying these actions, Morton posted online a speech of his asserting that Islams position is that those that insult the Prophet may be killed and exhorting his listeners to fight the disbelievers near you.

In addition, Morton admitted that he aided Chesser in taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent extremists to attack the writers of South Park for an episode that featured Muhammad in a bear suit, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to pay them a visit. Among the steps they took were posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Morton worked with Chesser to draft a message for the website regarding the South Park threats, including a quote from Osama bin Laden: If there is no check in the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions. Morton and Chesser posted the final version of this statement on various extremist online forums, and Chesser told Morton that he expected the statement would scare the kuffar. Kuffar is an Arabic term referring to an unbeliever, or disbeliever, in Islam.

Chesser was arrested on July 21, 2010, charged with providing material support to Al-Shabaab and later also pled guilty to communicating threats and soliciting violent extremists to desensitize law enforcement. Four days after Chessers arrest, Morton fled to Morocco, where he resided until his arrest on U.S. charges on May 26, 2011.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBIs Washington Field Office and the New York Police Departments Intelligence Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

SNIPPET: “A convert to Islam who helped promote death threats against the producers of the animated television show “South Park” after it featured a character representing the prophet Mohammad will serve 11½ years in prison, a federal judge ordered Friday.”

Leader of Revolution Muslim Website Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Threaten Jewish Organizations
U.S. Attorneys Office
October 31, 2013

Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, VAYousef Mohamid Al-Khattab (a.k.a. Joseph Cohen), 45, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty yesterday to using his position as a leader of the Revolution Muslim” websites to use the Internet to place others in fear of serious bodily injury.

Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Washington Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Liam OGrady.

Al-Khattab faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when he is sentenced on February 7, 2014.

According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Al-Khattab and his colleague, Jesse Curtis Morton (a.k.a. Younus Abdullah Muhammad), founded the Revolution Muslim organization in December 2007 to operate Internet platforms and websites to encourage Muslims to support Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al Awlaki, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and others engaged in or espousing violent jihad.

On January 8, 2009, Al-Khattab posted to the Revolution Muslim website a video encouraging viewers upset about the conflict in Gaza to seek out the leaders of Jewish Federation chapters in the U.S. and deal with them directly at their homes. Al-Khattab gave the names and addresses of synagogues in New York and another Jewish organization in Brooklyn.

On January 20, 2009, Al-Khattab posted a video and photo of the headquarters of the Jewish organization in Brooklyn, with a map and directions to specific facilities. Al-Khattab also posted a link to The Anarchist Cookbook, which is a manual for (among other things) constructing and using explosive devices.

On January 23, 2009, Al-Khattab posted to the Revolution Muslim website a video accusing the Jewish organization of funding terrorism and urging viewers to find the leaders of Jewish organizations and hold them responsible.

As acknowledged in the statement of facts, Al-Khattab knew that some viewers of the Revolution Muslim websites were inclined to violence, and by making the posts involving Jewish organizations in 2009, Al-Khattab was trying to frighten Jews and Jewish organizations.

On June 22, 2012, Revolution Muslim founder Jesse Morton was sentenced to 138 months in prison. On February 24, 2011, Revolution Muslim administrator Zachary Chesser was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBIs Washington Field Office and the New York City Police Departments Intelligence Bureau. Assistant United States Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allison Ickovic of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.

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